News:

Sec. Kerry returns to the Middle East for more peace efforts. (AFP)

PM Netanyahu greets Kerry with a barrage of criticism against Palestinians. (New York Times)

FM Lieberman, in contrast to his earlier attitudes, praises Kerry's efforts. (Ha'aretz)

Kerry insists peace is still possible. (Ma'an/AP)

The PLO says it will not accept any "worthless" framework agreement. (Jerusalem Post)

Jordan says any Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley would violate the peace agreement between the two countries. (Jerusalem Post)

A Palestinian teenager is killed in clashes with Israeli forces near the Gaza border. (Xinhua)

Israel confirms it has launched an airstrike on Gaza. (Xinhua/AFP)

Hamas says it does not want a further conflict with Israel. (Times of Israel)

Egypt accuses Hamas of complicity in the bombing of the security headquarters in Mansoura. (Ahram Online)

Hamas rejects Egyptian accusations it aided attacks against the country. (Xinhua)

The daughter of the Palestinian ambassador in Prague calls his death suspicious and says hemay have been assassinated. (AP/Ma'an)

PLO mission staff say they are not aware of any explosive device in the building. (The Guardian)

A stockpile of weapons was found in the PLO mission where the ambassador was killed. (AP/Reuters)

Residents in Prague want the PLO mission moved after the explosion. (Xinhua)

Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat reportedly says he fears Pres. Abbas might be killed by Israel. (Ma'an)

Israeli analysts say Hezbollah is moving long-range rockets from Syria to Lebanon. (New York Times)

US analysts also say Hezbollah is beefing up its arsenal in case of a conflict with Israel. (Times of Israel)

A former Israeli envoy to Argentina says Israel has killed most of those responsible for a 1994 Buenos Aires bombing. (Times of Israel)

Israel conducts a second test of a new ballistic missile interceptor. (Xinhua)

Three UNRWA employees are hospitalized while on hunger strike. (Ma'an)

A museum dedicated to Palestinian culture and identity is set to open in the occupied West Bank in 2015. (The Forward)

Google will fund a new scholarship at Ben-Gurion University. (JTA)

A new car bomb in Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut kills six and raises further tensions in Lebanon. (AP/Xinhua/New York Times)

Former PM Sharon's health condition is deteriorating and he appears near death. (AP)

Years after going into a coma, Sharon remains a highly polarizing figure in Israel. (Christian Science Monitor)

Two more Americans are arrested in Libya. (AP)

Al Qaeda is making a resurgence in key Iraqi cities. (New York Times/AP)

Egyptian authorities broadcast what they say is a confession by the son of a Muslim Brotherhood leader on terrorism. (AP)

Egyptian police are investigating a TV puppet for "terrorism." (New York Times/Washington Post)

US-Iranian tensions continue to simmer despite ongoing nuclear talks. (Christian Science Monitor)

Analysts see a mismatch in commitments by allies of both sides behind the resurgence of the Syrian dictatorship. (Wall Street Journal)

An Israeli study suggests there are more foreign Shiite than Sunni fighters participating in the Syrian conflict. (IIHCC/Washington Post)

Commentary:

Yehezkel Dror says Israel must now at last relinquish the dream of a "Greater Israel." (Ha'aretz)

Barak Ravid says the ball is now squarely in Netanyahu and Abbas' court and they must choose. (Ha'aretz)

Chemi Shalev says that Netanyahu is having more trouble with the concept of the 1967 borders then Sharon did. (Ha'aretz)

Mitch Ginsburg says Jordan Valley settlers live under the constant specter of possible evacuation. (Times of Israel)

Mick Davis says rejecting two states endangers both Israel and the Jewish diaspora. (Ha'aretz)

Jackson Diehl says Kerry may make progress on a framework agreement, as long as details are avoided. (Washington Post)

Yoaz Hendel says the release of Palestinian prisoners from occupied East Jerusalem shows Israel's quandary over the city. (YNet)

Peter Beinart says 2014 may prove the year the Jewish-American leadership loses control over the Israel issue. (Ha'aretz)

Patrick Maisonnave says EU still wants to remain close to Israel, if Israel cooperates. (Ha'aretz)

Matthew Gould says flourishing ties between Britain and Israel are the best answer to boycotts. (YNet)

Matthew Bunn and Frederick McGoldrick say the US should be flexible on Iran's civilian nuclear program. (Los Angeles Times)

Eyad Abu Shakra says 2014 will be a year of anxiety throughout the Arab world. (Asharq Al Awsat)

Rami Khouri identifies four markers to follow in the Middle East in 2014. (The Daily Star)

Osama Al Sharif also provides an overview of 2013 and predictions for 2014. (Arab News)

The Daily Star says Lebanon is facing its last chance to form a government and avoid total collapse. (The Daily Star)

Jean Aziz says two recent bombing attacks in Lebanon might be linked. (Al Monitor)

Alan Phillips says the rest of the region could learn much from Iraqi Kurdish pragmatism. (The National)

Marwan Asmar says the Syrian regime is digging in for the long haul. (Gulf News)

Annia Ciezadlo profiles Syrian dictator Al-Assad. (The New Republic)

Michael Weiss describes how Pres. Obama's "Syria policy fell apart." (Politico)

H A Hellyer says the revolutionary driving forces behind the 2011 Egyptian "revolution" need to find a new approach. (The National)

Caryle Murphy says women in the Gulf states have nowhere to go but up. (Asharq Al Awsat)